Variable-power telescope.



-A.GHEBE. VARIABLE POWER TELESCOPE. APPLICATION FILED NOV- I4, I912.

1,167,164. Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

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vwe wboi AZber Graze A. GREBE.

VARIABLE POWER TELESCOPE. I APPLICATION FILED- NOV. 14. 1912.

Patented Jam 1, 1916.

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To all whom may concern I Be it known that I, GBElSE, of

Rochester, in the county offMonroe and Stateoof New York, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Variable- Power Telescopes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tion' of the image, may 7 end the invention also contemplates a simple PH e reflector 6, sodisposed as to take --gun on Y bination's of parts,fall as will be hereinafter to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofjthis specification, and to thereferenc'e-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for'its object provide a telescope adapted. particularly to be used for the purpose of sighting heavy ordnance, such -as-shipscannon, in which the power of the instrfnbhent or; ma cae varied. To this and durable form of mounting and operating mechanism for adjusting the erecting further object to provide an improved means for-clamping the cross hair adjustingdevices, the partsmentioned being especially adapted to hold their positions and withstand the shocks incident to the firing .of the which the instrument may be mounted. h To these and other ends the-invention consists in-certain improvements and commore fully described, the novel features be? ing pointed out in the claims at the end of the specificatio'n In the vation of,a telescope or gun-sight showing parts, constructed in accordance with my invention, applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view,taken on the line 2"- -of Fig. 1, showing the mechamsm for adjusting, the verecting lens system; Fig.' 3

" is a similar view disclosing the arrangement of the adjustable'pa'rts ofthe cross hair support .and the locking devices for securmg' Fig. 4= is a horizontal these parts in place;

7 sectional view taken OIL-the line i 1F of Fig. 2; Fig, '5 is a detail view taken on the line 5 -"5"o f Fig. 2, and-Fig. 6 is a detail drawings: Figure is. a side el'e-- spe amfi n m ne PatentedJan.4,1916. n ncat'ion mea November 14,1912. Seria11ll'o.731,284. V r

have shown an optiealinstrument or tele-j scope of the character adapted for use as a gun-s ght with cannon such} as are used either 'dn'battleships or for coast defense,

comprising a tubular easing '1, detachably secured in'ajacket or clamps 3, provlded with the trunnions 4, by means of which the";. nstrument may be supported on a suitable portion of the gun; carriage or mount.- The casing 1 customarily stands in a -vertical', 5

or substantially vertical position, it beingprovided at its upper end with a suitable objective lens 5, with which cooperates a in a horizontal view and direct the light rays from the horizontal field into the ob-' of rays from the objective lens 5' being di- 'reeted into the eyepiece. by another prismatic reflector 8. Interposed betweenthe objective and eyepiecelenses is anorectmg systenfof lenses indicated by 9, having suitable optical properties whereby when in one position, as shown'm full lines in Fig. 2, they will give a high power magnification,

such for-instaneehs an enlargement of' 8j diameters and when in another position, as

shown in dotted lines in said figure, they will give a. relative lowpower magnification, for example, a magnification of only'2 diameters. V The adjustable lens system 9 is supported in a carrier or mounting 10 in the form ofa tube having at its upper and lower ends the. guide rings 11 and 12 respectively ging the walls of the tube 1. At one side 0 the latter and extending longitudinally thereof two spaced ribs 13, one of whichi's provided on'its inner face with the rack teeth 14 which coiiperate with a pinion 15 on the inner end of an arbor 16. The latter is carried in a; journal box 17 the inner end of which projects through the casing 1 into the space between the ribs 13, where 'one edge is cut away to permit the pinion bosses 19 and 19 which project outwardly through apertures in the jacket '3, the first mentioned boss serving as a support for the bearing block 17, while the latter carries the rigid post 20. This post is the axis or pivot on which the operating member, employed for shifting the position ofthe erecting system of lenses,.is mounted. In the present instance, the operating member comprises a segmental gear 21 meshing with the pinion 22 on the outer end oi the arbor 16 and oscillated by acrank arm.23.

In conjunction with the operating devices employed for shifting the interior lenses, there is provided meansfor impelling them toward and holding them in their uppermost and lowermost positions, or at the extremes of their movement in opposite directions, said means being yieldable to enable the operator 'to quickly shift, or reverse, the position of the lenses. In carrying-out this feature of my invention, 1 have shown, as one means of accomplishing the desired results, a spring 24 compressible between an. abutment 25 carried on the segmental gear 21 and an abutment 26 supported on. an arm 27 rigid on the post 20. The abutments 25 and 26 are pivotally connected to the respective parts on which they are mounted and in order to keep them in proper alinemen-t they are provided with telescoping guides arranged within the coils of the spring 24: as shownin Fig. '5. The

7 point of attachment of the abutment 25 to the gear 21, and the initial compression provided in the spring 24: is such that when l the operating member is in the position shown in Fig. 1, -the mounting 10 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 and be held in engagement with the uppermost stop '28. If desired these parts may be arranged to hold the carrier in its uppermost position against the stop 28' with considerable pressure and the spring caused to exert a greater force at this time than when the 1 position of the lens systemiis' reversed.

When'the inounting and the lens system is in its lowermost position the force of gravity will assist retaining these parts inthis position. A

Owing to the combined weight of the movable lens system-and its mounting and menace.

also because of the fact that the. spring 24 ing 10 toward the limit of its downward movement, there is provided at the lower in the present instance, this stop comprises the tubular sleeve 29 backed by the spring 30 and adapted to contact with the lower end of the mounting 10. The sleeve is held in place and its longitudinal movement is limited by a pin 31, the inner end of which rests in an elongated slot 32.

A particular advantage is derived'in. arranging the parts in the"manner shown, especially in a gunsight having the-vertically extending barrel or casing and the horizontally disposed eyepiece, as it will be observed that the operating devices by which the power of the telescope is altered, are arranged abovethe eyepiece and rotate in a plane transverse to its axis. In using the instrument the gunsighter usually has one eye bandaged and during action he is not supposed to removehis other eye from the eyepiece 'of the instrument. Withhis right hand he controls the adjusting mechanism, by means of which the gun is pointed. For these'reasons the arrangement of the parts shown is advantageous, as they are above the headof the gunsighter, within easy reach of his left hand and the full operation is efiected by a quarter rotation by the crank arm .23. It is not necessary, however, for the operator to actually rotate exerts an equal tendency to impel the mountend of the casing l a yielding stop or check.

the crank the full distance, as the spring 24 I will impel the operating mechanism to the limit of its movement in either direction "upon rotation of the crank over center.

A further feature of my invention relates tov means for locking the cross hair adjusting devices in position within the telescope. In the instrument shown, the cross hairs are mounted at the point A. They are supported on the ring or carrier 35 resting upon a shoulder 36 formed upon the interior of the casing l and rotatably adjustable by means of a finger 37 projecting exteriorly of the casing and carried on the'ring 38 which is clamped by a screw 39. The carrier 35 is' adjustable transversely of the casing 1 by means of two cross slides 40 and'41 controlled by dovetailed guides, as indicated'at provide at its lower end engaging the ring 44. This embodying thezfeatures of my ofpin/l7 carried in the exterior of .19

quently when t within the casing 1,'a clamping member or sleeve 45,threaded at its upper end at 46"to the wall A telescope invention isadapted to beusedwith the adjustable system of lenses located first in the low .power'position when a relatively large field is disclosed. A particular point in such field is then selected as the sighting mark when the shift of the lenses being made to the high power position a greater magnification of the selected point is attained with a 'consequent lessening of the area of the field under observation.

I claim as my invention v 1. In an optical instrument, the combina-- tion with a tube having objective and eye- 1 I piece lenses, an erecting system oflensesand a carrier for the latter movable in the tube,

of an operating member arranged exteriorly 4 of the tube and movable alternately in oppo-.

site directions, driving connections between said memberjand carrler for shlftlng the 'latter and meansforimpelling the carrier to the limit of its movement'in both direc- '-ti ons.

' tion with a tubehaving- I of a carrierfor the latter guidedin the tube, I

a shiftable operating member arranged ex' piece lenses,

. prising impel the carrier to thelimit of its longitudi 2. In an optical instrument, the combinaobjective and eye-.

piece lenses, and an erecting system ofjlenses',

teriorly o f-the tube and operating mechanism between said member, and carrier com a tension device which operates to :nal movement in both directions. g

3. In an optical instrument, the combination with a tube having objective and eye-, and an erecting system of lenses,

of a carrier a shiftable operating member arranged ex- V effecting the longitudinal ment of the operating member and means 001 teriorly to swing a partial revolution in 0posite directions, operating mechanism for carrier in opposite directions upon moveoperating with said mechanism to impel the carrier toward the limits of its movement when movedrpast a central point in either direction and also serving. to yieldingly hold the car 'er at the extremes of its movement.

, tudinallyin said tube, an

for the latter guided. in the tube,-

adjustment of the 4. In a telescope, the combination with a tube, a system of erecting fitted with objective and eyepiece lenses, lenses and a movable carrier therefor, guided in the tube, having a gear rack, of a segmental gear mounted exteriorly of the tube, a bearing block at the side of'the tube supporting the segmental, v

anfarbor also extending through said I gear,

block-and provided upon its inner and outer ends with pinions ,coeperating respectively with the rack and the segmental gear.

5. In a variable power telescope, the combi: nation with a tube having objective and eyepiece lenses and a system of erecting lenses, of a mounting for the ing member on the latter and connections between it and said mounting'ior shifting the latter, a spring connected to said operating latter movable long1- oscillatory operat-.

member and to the tube and serving to rotate the member tothe limit of its movement after it has passed the center ofmovement whentraveling in. one direction or the other.

.6.'f.[he combination with a telescope tube having objective, eyepiece and erecting lenses, and amounting for longitudinally inithe tube having a gear rack,

, of a reinforcement applied to'said tube carrying a post, a bearing block extending through the tube and reinforcement, an arbor 'journ'aled therein and provided with gear pinions, an oscillatory gear segment pivoted on the post and cotiperating with one of said pinions, and means for oscillating said gear segment. L v i 7. The combination with a telescope tube having objective eyepiece and erecting lenses,

and a mounting'for the latter movable lon-' of an arbor provided with pinions arranged internally and externally of said tube, the

former co'eperating with the rack and a sta-' ti'onary post projecting a rigid finger thereon, a gear segment journaled on the post and eooperating with the 'external'pinion', an extensible spring co-acting with the gear segment and said finger to from the tube having its center of movementtin either direction an a handle for shifting the gear segments.

8. In a variable power optical instrument, the combination with a tubular casing fitted "with an objective and'an eyepiece, of a sysinterposed between tem of erecting lenses them, a mounting therefor, ing it longitudinally in thecasing, for limiting its movement means for movand 'stops 9. In a gun sight, the combination with a vertically disposed tubular casing fitted with an objective and an eyepiece, of a systemof erecting. lenses, a mount the casing, means for moving it upward y and downwardly and a yielding stop ar the latter movable in. opposite directions, one of which is yieldingly supported.

' 'gltudinallyjin the tubehavinga gear rack,

rotate the segment when it is adjusted past therefor guided in ranged beneath said mount'and adapted to limit its downward movement.

10. In a variable power optical instrument, the combination With a tubular casing fitted 5 with. an objective and an eyepiece, of a sys tem of .erecting lenses interposed between them, a mounting therefor,'means for m0vin'g'it longitudinally in the casing, a sleeve yieldingly supported to move axially of the casing and disposed to engage one end of the 10 said mounting for checking its movement in one direction.

ALBERT GREBE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. WooDWo 'rH', HENRY C. THON. 

